My nappies smell

One of the most common issues causing stinky nappies (ammonia build up) is an incorrect wash routine.

Wash routine check list

Is the machine ¾ full? Not more or less. Add a towel to a emptier load. Nappies need agitation to get clean.

Am I using the right amount of detergent (OMO can cause stinky nappies)?

Are you adding a bit more detergent if you are cold washing?

Is the machine cycle on the longest?

Are the nappies being rinsed properly before the main cycle?

Are you hand rinsing night nappies IMMEDIATELY off the bum in hot tap water before storing?

Solutions:

Follow the steps below to get rid of ammonia build up:

Try a long hot (max 30`c) wash with the full amount of recommended detergent.

If that doesn’t work:

Add clean nappies to the machine. Add half a cup of baking soda in the detergent drawer to a normal cycle (no detergent as nappies are clean) and add half a cup of vinegar to the rinse water. (Watch the machine and once the spin has finished the machine should fill up with water- this is the rinse. Add the vinegar to the detergent drawer)

If that doesn’t work:

You will need to bleach strip in cold water followed with a hot (max 30 degrees) wash to break down the bleach. See below.

2. How to bleach strip:

In the bath :

Use bio bleach.

In the bath: Add half a cup of bleach to a liter of water and mix in a jug.Add to the nappies which are submerged in cold water. Mix and leave for 30 mins. Wash as per normal in the machine with detergent and on 30`c.

If you have only a cold water machine: let the water out of the bath then refill with hot tap water only and leave to soak for 15 minutes. Then do a cold wash in the machine as per normal with detergent.

In a frontloader:

Half cup of bleach diluted with one liter of cold water.

Add to your frontloader through the detergent tray once the machine has already filled with water.

Cold wash. Regular cycle. No detergent.

Followed by a hot wash (30`c) with detergent to deactivate the bleach.